Attention Deficit Disorder » Behavior Advisor

Huh? What? OH!

Hello fellow B-Listers! It’s time for another video regarding a particular mental health disorder. About once a week, you’ll receive information and a case study video to your e-mail inbox that will increase your knowledge and skill bases in working with kids with mental health and behavior challenges.

Last week’s topic, ODD received the most votes and became our first video in the series. (I chuckle at the ODD acronym, although I never did so when the behaviors that comprise it were demonstrated in my classroom.) You can re-visit that video and write-up at: http://www.behavioradvisor.com/oppositional-defiant-disorder-odd-info-video/

ADHD came in as runner-up to ODD, making it the topic for this week’s blast. Next week? We’ll start a slew of videos and information on anxiety-based disorders; the most common mental health concerns in kids and adults.

Oops… please excuse my distracted attention to the issue at hand. Here’s the write-up and video on ADHD.

Neurological causation? Lack of structured parenting? Merely the most evident symptoms of a more serious mental health disorder? Why are kids from poverty more likely to be identified? Do the medications that subdue the symptoms place the youngster at risk for stunted growth or future illicit drug use? Certainly ADHD is receiving a great deal of attention (pun intended), especially with the newly published medical and pharmaceutical research (e.g., brain scans, medication trials, etc.) leading the way. Herein, you’ll find the basic information on the condition(s), a nice case study video by one of my grad students, and suggestions for interventions.

General Overview

6% of American kids have been diagnosed. That is a 50% increase in diagnosis from 2010 to 2018.
ADHD impacts children of all races, but certain conditions might impact the various races/cultures in different ways. From 2001 to 2010, the rate of ADHD among non-Hispanic black girls increased over 90 percent.
ADHD affects children of all races, but here is a break down of diagnosed youngsters:
- Whites: 9.8%
- Blacks: 9.5%
- Latinos: 5.5%
Symptoms of ADHD typically first appear between the ages of 3 and 6.
The average age of the initial ADHD diagnosis is 7. However, the severity of the symptoms impacts the age of diagnosis.
- 8 years old: average age of diagnosis for children with mild ADHD
- 7 years old: average age of diagnosis for children with moderate ADHD
- 5 years old: average age of diagnosis for children with severe ADHD
- When compared to females, males are nearly 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD.
ADHD isn’t just a childhood disorder. About 4 percent of American adults over the age of 18 deal with ADHD on a daily basis.
- 13 percent of men will be diagnosed with ADHD during their lives. In comparison
- 4.2 percent of women will be diagnosed.

More statistics regarding ADHD can be found at https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/facts-statistics-infographic#demographics

When DSM-5 was published, ADHD moved from being deemed a disruptive disorder to the category ofneurological disorders. Certainly it is both. Remember please that kids a result of, a product of, and sometimes a victim of their life circumstances. No child of a mother in labor thinks “I can’t wait to get out there to cause havoc!” (At least my mind-reading skills tell me that as-of-yet unstudied time period previous to birth.)

ADHD is a neurological disorder, so don’t hate the victim. Work to support these youngsters in their struggle to change their behavio(u)r for the better.

Image copied from https://hariomhomoeo.com/adhd-medications-1/

The DSM-5 Criteria for Diagnosis

(Source: American Psychiatric Association (2013). DSM-5, Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association)

The individual must meet the criteria for Inattention, Hyperactivity/Impulsivity, or Both

1. Inattention 17 & younger: Six or more of these symptoms must be present for at least 6 months, be inconsistent with the child’s developmental level, and have a negative effect on their social and academic activities. To be endorsed, the following must occur “often”:

a. Fails to pay close attention to details

b. Has trouble sustaining attention

c. Doesn’t seem to listen when spoken to directly

d. Fails to follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork or chores

e. Has trouble getting organized

f. Avoids or dislikes doing things that require sustained focus/thinking

g. Loses things frequently

h. Easily distracted by other things

i. Forgets things

2. Hyperactivity and Impulsivity Six or more of these symptoms must be present for at least 6 months, be inconsistent with the child’s developmental level, and have a negative effect on their social and academic activities. To be endorsed, the following must occur “often”:

a. Fidgets with hands/feet or squirms in chair

b. Frequently leaves chair when seating is expected

c. Runs or climbs excessively

d. Trouble playing/engaging in activities quietly

e. Acts “on the go” and as if “driven by a motor”

f. Talks excessively

g. Blurts out answers before questions are completed

h. Trouble waiting or taking turns

i. Interrupts or intrudes on what others are doing

3 TYPES

ADHD Predominantly Inattentive Presentation (ADHD-PI)
ADHD Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation (ADHD-PHI)
ADHD Combined Presentation (Inattentive & Hyperactive-Impulsive) (ADHD-C)

The condition can be:

Mild: Six or only slightly more symptoms are present and impairment in social or school functioning is minor

Moderate: Symptoms or impairment is between mild and severe

Severe: (Many symptoms above the required 6 characteristics are present and/or symptoms are severe; impairment in social or school functioning is severe)

Source: Stepping Stones Psychological Services of Princeton, LLC with minor wording modifications

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